This year, the sweet festivities fall on August 10.

While it’s a joyful occasion for the entire country, no one celebrates more enthusiastically than the nation’s melon farmers—and for good reason. Turkmenistan is responsible for a quarter of the world’s melon varieties. Of the 1,600 melon cultivars known globally, over 400 have been developed by Turkmen breeders.

But the love affair with melons runs deeper than modern agriculture. At the archaeological site of Gyuar-Kala, researchers discovered ancient melon seeds, proving that the fruit has been grown in the region for thousands of years.

Local melon growers, continuing the traditions of their ancestors, regard the melon as part of their great heritage and national treasure. For them, the melon is a symbol of skill and a reflection of hard work.

On August 10, Ashgabat and cities across the country will come alive with open-air festivals, concerts, and exhibitions celebrating the beloved fruit. Guests will sample not only fresh melons of every shape and flavor, but also traditional dishes prepared with melon as a central ingredient.

The best melon growers and harvesters, who become the winners of the modestly named competition “Golden Melon of the Golden Age,” will receive awards from the President of Turkmenistan.